other half

back to me

the drive was short. no more than endless dusty back roads that lead up to a beautiful plantation. the garden that surrounded the house had been so well kept there wasn't a weed in sight. surprisingly so as the garden was large, spreading around to the back of the house. Noah stared in awe as the man pulled up slowly. in the garden flowers and plants that he couldn't quite describe thrived in the open air. vegetable patches became clearer as the man lead them inside, he could spot them through the open windows at the back of the house.

"put your bags over there, i want to talk to you first" he said putting on the kettle getting ready to make some coffee. neither was particularly tired but could use a little pick me up to ese some of the tension.

Noah placed his bag by the stairs before returning to kitchen and seating himself on a wooden chair, neatly placed around a circular table.

"what's your name son?"

"noah sir" he replies.the man was shocked by the boys manners. he knew exactly who he was, he was one of the cole boys. though he never imagined such obedience from the boy, doing as he was told without batting an eyelash. it reminded him of himself. though a lot had changed since he was Noah's age.

he places a mug of tea in front of Noah before taking a seat opposite him. he takes a long sip before attempting to further the conversation.

"I'm Jim, you know i used to watch you run around my garden with your brothers when you were younger?"

Noah's eyes widened quickly as the nostalgic regret washed over him. the garden looked familiar but not too much so that he could pinpoint it exactly. but jim had just done that for him. Jim began to reminisce on the good days when he would watch the boys play in the garden for hours before their father would come along and drag them back to the house. he enjoyed watching the kids as he never had any of his own. his wife had gotten pregnant once upon a time with a girl. a little girl who didn't make it to her first birthday. they lost her at six months. the memory still fresh in his mind. the heart break more than clear in his eyes.

they were happy none the less, knowing that they had each other and only each other, for them that's all that mattered. they were their only family. they didn't need anyone else. the loss of the child lived with them forever but after a while the grief became too low and grey that they needed to return to the colour. they would still hold birthdays for her, every year until she turned 17. when his wife got sick.

Noah was so engrossed in the stories, in this mans life he hadn't realised the time passing. four mugs of tea later and the noon was upon them. a warm haze spreading out over the plantation.

"take your things upstairs-"

"si-" Noah couldnt even get the words out before Jim insisted. once more Noah did as he was told, agrreeing to the terms on which he was to live with Jim. he would work at the scrap yard, and help him keep the garden neat and tidy as Jim was getting a bit older now and needed the help.

Noah was more than happy. as long as it meant he wouldn't he didn't have to go back. no more beatings, arguments, the lot. it was all over now.

soon enough the sky had turned black and the stars were being half covered by a large grey cloud, looming over the town, readying itself to release the heavens.

Lydia stared out at the cloud wondering where he was.if he was okay. her heart breaking for the boy she missed. her mind rallying in circles as she kept going over what had happened. her parents slept heavily in the other room. her fathers snoring drowning out the silence.

she lifted the window just an inch, placing a thick book underneath it. creeping across her bedroom floor desperate as to not make a sound she shut the door behind her gently.double checking that no one had heard her.